Rail-anticreeper.



J. G. PORTTEUS.

RAIL ANTICRBEPER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 16, 1910.

Patented Dec. 6, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

I jaw]; 4 Jm l aflza A II J. G. PORTTEUS.

RAIL ANTIGBEEPER.

APPLICATION FILED mm 16, 1910.

Patented Dec.6,1910.

'2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

'. STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES Q .POR'ITEUS,.OF MARION, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR F ONE-HALF '10 EDWARD L.

Y ADREON, JR., 0]? ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

RAIL-ANTICREEPEB.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 6,1910.

Application filed Juneis, 1910. Serial No. 567,193.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES G. PORTTEUS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Marion, Indiana, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Rail-'Anticreepers, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make anduse the same.

This invention relates to rail anti-creep ers, namely, tie-plates and devices that are used in railway track structures for holding the rails in position and preventing them from creeping or moving longitudinally.

One object of my invention is to provide a tie plate or rail anchor which is so designed that it grips the base flange of the rail with a yielding necessity 0 using wedges or other separate fastening devices for connecting it to the rail and also eliminating the possibility of its working loose accidentally and becoming detached from the rail as often occurs with devices of this character which depend on a snu fit with the base flange of the rail to hold them in position.

Another object is to provide a tie plate or rail anchor that comprises rail-flange-engag ing members and a connecting member that extends under the rail, said members being so constructed that they exert a yielding clamping action on the top and bottom faces of the base flange of the rail.

Another object is to providea device of the character described that comprises a resilient portion which extends under the base flange of therail and flange-engaging members connected to said resilient portion and designed in such a manner that they can be sprung over the base flange of the rail when said resilient portion is placed under tension, the resiliency of said portion causing the flangeengaging members thereon to clamp the base flange of the rail so tightly that it is practically impossible for the rail to creep or for the device to become accidentally detached from the rail.

Another object is to provide a device of the character described which is so designed that it will grip the rail more tightly as the weight or load on the. railis increased.

Another object is to provide a rail-supporting device or tie plate which possesses a certain degree of resiliency that makes itparticularly adapted for use on concrete ties pressure, thereby overcoming the or other supporting foundations which have no elasticity. And still another object is to provide a rail anchor or anti-creeper which is equipped with means for setting it up or arrlanging. it in operative position on the rai Other objects and desirable features of my invention will be hereinafter pointed out.

While I have herein shown my, invention embodied in tie plates and an anti-creeper which are so designed that the longitudinal movement or creeping of the rail causes them to engage the rail more tightly, I do not wish it to be understood that my broad idea is limited to tie plates and anti-creepers having this feature or in fact to tie plates and anti-creepers of any particular type or design as my invention, broadly stated, consists in a tie plate or rail anchor designed in such a manner that it is held on the rail or connected to the rail by a yielding clamping pressure irrespective of whether it is immov able or can turn relatively to the tie or fo'un dation with which it cooperates.

Figure 1 of the drawings is an elevational View of a rail anchor constructed in accordance with my invention illustrating the manner of applying the device to the rail; Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an elevational view illustrating the device arranged in operative position on the rail; Fig. 4 is a top plan view illustrating the operative position of said device; Fi 5 is a top plan View illustrating a slight y. modified form of rail anchor; Fig. 6 is an elevational view illustrating a tie plate constructed in accordance with my invention, and particularly adapted foruse on concrete ties; Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the device shown in Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is an elevational view of another form of tie plate constructed in accordance with my invention; and Fig. 9 is a top plan view of the tie plate shown in Fig. 8.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 4' of the drawings which illustrate a rail anchor or anticreeper constructed in accordance with my invention, A designates a cross-piece or portion of the device which passes underneath the base flange l of the rail, and B and C designate rail-flange-engaging members on the portion A which are adapted to engage the top face of the base flange of the rail when the device is arranged in operative position, as shown in Figs. 3'and 4/ The device is preferably formed of malleable iron or'some other suitable metal that possesses a certain degree of elasticity and the flange-engaging members B and C are formed integral with the portion A that extends under the base flange of the rail. The device can be formed in various ways to obtain the desired yielding clamping action on the rail but I prefer to camber the part A slightly or curve it in such a manner that the crown or middle part 2 thereof will bear against the under side of the base flange of the rail and thus cause the flangeen aging members B and C to be forced tig tly against the top face of the base flange of the rail. The flange -'engaging members B and C consist of arms which project toward "each other and they are s aced far enough away from the crosspiece A of the device to form pockets which receive the base flange of the rail, the under sides or faces of said members which bear upon the flange of the rail being so shaped that the do not bear upon the edge portions of the ase flange of the rail. In other words, I prefer to form the members B and C in such a manner that when the device is arranged in operative position, as shown in Fig. 3, clearances 3 will be provided for both longitudinal edges of the base flange of the rail and thus locate the clamping pressure at points between the vertical web 1 of the rail and the longitudinal edges of the base flange of the rail. The under sides or faces of the members B and C which bear upon the top face of the. rail flange are preferably inclined or arranged at an angle relatively to the ortion A of the device so that they wi conform approximately to the to face of the rail flange, and, if desired, the member B can be provided with a lip or extension B so as to increase'the bearing area of said member on the rail flange, said extension B'- bein of less thickness than the body portion 0 the clamping member B so as to impart a certain degree of resiliency to said extension and thus enable the device to be arranged in operative position more easily than would be possible with a perfectly rigid flangeengaging member.

The device is so proportioned that it can be sprung into position on the base flange of the rail by arranging the portion A under the rail and at approximatel right angles thereto, and insertmg one e ge of the rail flange under the member-B, as shown in Fig. 1, and then springing the portion A upwardly so that the other flange-engaging member C will be raised high enough to lap over or catch onto the flange of the rail when the portion A is twisted or turned bodily relatively to the rail, as shown in Fi 4. Y

The cross-piece or portion A of the device is provided at one end with a strut 4 which is adapted to engage a tie T and thus hold the portion A in such a position that it cannot slip off the base flange of the rail. This strut 4 lies at an angle relatively to the part A of the device and thus holds the flangeenga g member C a definite distance from the tie and a farther distance from said tie than the member B. The clamping pressure which'the members B and C exert on the base flange of the railis so great that it will be practically impossible for the rail to creep but in case the rail should creep slightly, the longitudinal movement of the rail in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 4 will cause the member B to move toward the tie and thus increase the clamping action of both the members B and C on the flange of the rail. The strut 4 is provided with a vertical web 4 that abuts against the side face of the tie T and also a portion 4 that laps over the top face of the tie, and a device 5 is adjustably mounted in said strut so as to bear against the ed e of the base flange of the rail and thus twist or turn the portion A relatively to the rail when the device 5, is tightened. It will, of

course, be understood that this device 5 is used merely for setting up the anchor or moving the part A from a position at right angles to the rail, as shown in Fig. 2, into the position shown in Fig.- 4, but it forms a very convenient means for arranging the anchor in operative position after the flangeengagingmember C has been sprung tipwardly onto the flange of the rail.

In Fig. 5 I have illustrated a sli htly modified form of my invention in whic the portion 4 of the strut that laps over the top of the tie is omitted, said strut being provided with a web 4 that bears against the side face of the tie.

From the foregoing it will be seen that it is practically impossible for an anchor of the construction above described to become accidentally detached from the rail or slip off the rail for itis retained in position by the resiliency of the cambered portion A of the device'which causes the clamping members B and C to exert downward pressure on the base flange of the rail at points between the vertical web of the rail and the. longitudinal edges of the base flange, the rail be- .ing clam ed securely at three points, namely,

the mid le of the bottom face of the base flange and on the top face of the base flange between the vertical web and the longitudinal edges of said flange. Most of the rail anchors which have heretofore been in use depended either upon fastening devices or on a snug fit with the base flange to retain them in operative position, but in my improved construction the anchor is securely clamped to the base flange of the rail by the resiliency of the portion of the anchor which passes under the rail. Furthermore, in my construction the members which hold the rail down bear upon the top face of the base flange at points some distance inwardly from the longitudinal edges of said flange.

The members B and C are preferably provided with strengthening ribs 6 that merge into the cross-piece A of the device, and the strut 4, which is integrally connected to the member C and to the portion A, is approximately T-chaped in cross section, the adj ustable device 5 which is mounted in said strut either being threaded through a screwthreaded opening in a sleeve 7 formed integral with the strut or through a separate threaded member connected to the strut.

' In Figs. 6 and II have illustrated a tie plate constructed in accordance with my invention that is particularly adapted for use on concrete ties T or other structures which have no elasticity. Said tie plate comprises a cambered base portion A and flange-engaging members B? and C which are formed integrally with the base portion A said flange-engaging members being of substantially the same shape as the flange-engaging members shown in Fig. lso as to exert a clamping pressure on the base flange of the rail at points between the vertical web of the rail and the longitudinal edges of the rail and thus securely hold the rail in position. The base portion A is provided at one end with an extension 8 through which a fastening device 9 passes so as to pivotally connect said base portion to the tie, and the oppow site end of the base portion is prevented from moving upwardly by means of a fastening device 10 connected to the tie and provided with a head that laps over the edge of said base portion, as shown clearly in Fig. 6, the fastening devices that are used for this purpose being of any preferred design but constructed in such a manner that the base portion of the device can twist or turn relatively to the tie when the rail creeps in one direction and thus force the members B and C farther onto the base flange of the rail. A tie plate of this construction not only holds the rail securely down on the tie but it also has the desirable feature of being forced onto the rail more tightly by any longitudinal movement or creeping of the rail,- this, of course. being due to the fact that the base portion of the device is pivotally connected at one end to the tie and is free at its opposite end so that it can turn or twist relatively to the rail. In addition to these desirable features, the tie plate shown in Figs. 6 and 7 possesses the still further desirable feature of being resilient or having suflicient elasticity to absorb the shocks which the rail is subjected to when in service, thus making it particularly adapted for use on concrete ties and other supporting foundations which are perfectly rigid. And still another desirable feature of such a tie plate is that the members B and C will be forced more snugly into engagement with the rail when the weight or load on the rail is increased, owing to the fact that the downward pressure which the rail exerts on the cambered portion A tends to straighten out said cambered portion or place it under greater tension which, of course, results in an increased clamping pressure of the members B and Q on the base flange of the rail.

The tie plate shown in Figs. 8 and 9 is of practically the same construction as the tie plate shown in Figs. 6 and 7 and possesses all the desirable features of such a construction but it primarily intended for use on a wood tie and comprises an arm 8 which projects downwardly from the base portion A so that it will bear against one of the side faces of the tie and thus form a fulcrum about which said base portion can turn as to cause the flange-engaging members B and C to be forced farther. onto the base flange of the rail. The base portion A of the plate is connected to. the tie by means of spikes 11 which preferably lap over the base flange of the rail. as shown in Fig. 9, and the elongated openings 12 in the base portion A through which said spikes ,11 pass are so proportioned that the base portion A can twist or turn slightly around the arm 8 as a fulcrum. In setting up a tie plate-of this construction I prefer to. have each of the spikes 11 bear against one end of the elongated opening 12 through which it passes in such a manner that the spikes impart a twisting or turning movement to the base portion A when they are being driven into the tie so as to securely lock the base portion,

A in its adjusted position and. prevent it from moving into such a position that the flange-engaging members B and C can slip ofi'tbe base flange of the rail, this feature being illustrated in Fig. 9.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A device of the character described, comprising flange-engaging members which bear upon the top face of the base flange of the rail at points between the edges of said flange and the web of the rail, and means for causing said members to exert a downward clamping pressure on the rail, said members being so formed that they do not bear upon the top face ofsaid base flange adjacent the longitudinal edges of said flange.

2. A device of the character described, comprising clamping members having flangeengaging faces which are so designed that they do not bear upon the edge portipns of the top face of the base flange of the rail, and resilient means arranged in engagement with the base flange of the rail and operating to cause said members to normally exert a downward clamping pressure on the flange of the rail.

3. A device of the character described, comprising a cast metal portion that projects under the base flange of the rail, said ortion being so formed that it is normally 111 tension when the device is arranged in operative position, and cast members formed integral with said portion for engaging the base flange of the rail.

4. A device of the character described, comprising a cast portion that projects under the base flange of the rail, said portion being so formed that it is normally intension when the device is arranged in operative position, and hook-shaped flange-engaging members integrally connected to said portion and having 'clamping faces which are so designed that they do not bear upon the edge portions of the top face of the flange of the rail. v

5. A device of the character described, comprising a cambered portion that is adapted to be arranged under the base flange of the rail with its crown in engagement with the bottom face of said flange, and flange-engaging members on said cambered portion that lap over the base flange of the rail, said members being so formed that they do not engage the longitudinal edges of the base flange of the rail or the portions of the top face of said flangewhich are adjacent the longitudinal edges of same.

6. A device of the character described, comprising a cast metal cambered portion whose crown bears against the under side ofthe base flange of the rail, and integral hookshaped flange-engaging members on said sprung up over the base flange of the rail so as to place said cambered portion under tension and thus caiise said members to exert a downward clamping pressure on the base flange of the rail.

7. A device of the character described, comprising two substantially hook-shaped flange-engagingmembers, and a cambered portion that connects said members together, said members and cambered portion being formed of cast metal and sodesigned that one of said flange-engaging members can be sprung up over the edge of the base flange of the rail by placing said cambered portion under tension.

8. A device of the character described, comprising a cambered portion that passes under the base flange of the rail and which is adapted to be placed under tension during the operation of arranging the devibe in position, and a pair of approximately hook-shaped flange-engaging members on said cambered portion that lap over the top face of the base flange of the rail, one of said members being provided with a reduced extension which projects beyond the inner and comprising a cambered portion which end of said member toward the web of the rail 9. A device of the character described, comprising a cast metal resilient portion arranged under the base flange of the rail, integral flange-enga 'ng members on said portion which are he (1 pressed against the top face of said base flange by the resiliency of said portion, and means whereby the longitudinal movement or cree ing of the rail in 7 one direction causes sai resilient portion to move into such a osition that the clamping pressure of sai flange engaging members on the railis increased.

10. A device of the character described constructed of cast metal and comprising a cambered portion whose crown bears against the under side of the base flange of the rail, approximately hook-shaped flange-engaging members on said cambere d portion which are adapted to be sprung up over the base flange of the rail so as to place said cambered portion under tension and thus cause said members to exert a downward clamping pressure on the base flange of the rail, and means whereby the longitudinal movement or creeping of the rail in one direction causes said flange-engaging members to be forced more tightly against said base flange.

11. A rail anchor, comprising a cast metal 95 cambered portion which is under tension when arranged in operative position, a pair of approximately hook-shaped flange-engaging members on said cambered portion which exert a downward clamping pressure on the top face of the base flange of the rail, and a strut at one end of said cambered portion that bears against a track tie. cambered portion which are adapted to be 12. A rail anchor formed of castmetal is under tension when arranged in operative position, a pair of integral flange-engaging members on said eambered portion which exert a downward clamping pressure on the top face of the base flange of the rail, a strut integrally connected to one end of said cambered portion and bearing against a track tie, and an integral wing on said strut that laps over the top faceof said track tie.

13. A rail anchor, comprising a cambered portion which is under tension when arranged in operative position, flange-engaging members on said cambered portion which exert a downward clam ing pressure on the top face of the base fliinge of the rail, 9. 12C strut at one end of said cambered portion that bears against a track tie, and an adjustable device carried by said strut and adapted to be forced into engagement with the rail so as to twist or turn said cambered portion relatively to the rail.

14:. 'A rail anchor, comprising a resilient portion arranged under the base flange of the rail and provided with flange-engaging members that exert a downward clamping pressure on the base flange of the rail, e strut projecting laterally from one end of said resilient portion and adapted to beer against a track tie, and ,HlBElIlS carried by said strut for efi'ecting n movement of said resilient portion relatively to the rail so as to force said flange-engaging members inrther onto the base flange of the rail.

15, A rail anchor, comprising a oaniber'ed v cross-piece provided at its ends with approximatelyhook shaped flange engaging members, one of which is adapted to receive the portion of the base flange of the rail which lies on one side of the web of the rail and the other being adapted to be sprung up over the portion of the base flange on the other side of said web when the cznnbered portion of the'device is twisted or turned relatively to the rail and placed in tension. and e strut on one end of seid oernbered cross-piece which is adapted to cooperate 'with a track tie for holding said oenibered press-piece in an angular position with relation to said tie. V

16. A mil anchor comprising a oemberedcross-piece provided at its ends with proximately hook shaped flange engaging members one of which is adapted to receive the portion oi the base flange of the rail which lies on one side of the web ofthe reil end the other being adapted to be sprung up over the portion of the base flange on the other side of said webwhen the ca-anbered portion of the device is twisted or turne relatively tothe rail. and placed in tension,

a strut on one end of said cainbered crosspiece winch is adapted to cooperate with it track tie tor holding said ceinbe'red crosspiece in an angular position with reietion JAMES Gr. PURTTEUS.

Witnesses DANIEL MoAvor ALVA T. FRAZER 

